EP1304064B1 - Kitchen machine for preparation of food - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a food preparation kitchen appliance comprising a receptacle for holding the food, a driven tool circulating in the receptacle, and a drive source which rotates the tool and which can be coupled to the tool, the tool being provided in the receptacle arranged axis or shaft is guided or stored.

In practice, kitchen machines are commonly used in which in the bottom of the vessel, a coaxial shaft is rotatably mounted, on which a circulating in the vessel tool is arranged and arranged by a outside, in particular below the vessel drive source, for example Shape of a drive motor, is driven. The reaching from the bottom into the interior of the vessel wave, which is often surrounded by an integrally formed on the ground protective sleeve hinders the removal of the prepared food from the vessel and is also the cleaning of the vessel hindrance in the way. Basically, the same applies to another type of such kitchen machines in which the bottom of the vessel is anchored to a rigid axis which projects into the interior of the vessel and for storage or guidance of a tool which is driven by a drive source, which is provided with a drive shaft from above protrudes into the vessel and can be coupled with the mounted on the axis tool. The obstruction of the removal of the food and the cleaning of the vessel is the greater the smaller the diameter of the most cylindrical pot or urn-shaped vessel. With decreasing diameter of the vessel namely the radial width of existing between the central axis or shaft and the vessel inner wall annular space is correspondingly smaller, with the result that it is difficult or even impossible for the user with the whole hand to fall into this annulus. The user must use scrapers or wipers to remove the prepared food from the jar, which is cumbersome. In addition, the practice has shown that the user for this purpose not infrequently used for convenience inappropriate tools such as metal spoons, knives and the like for food removal, which often results in damage to the usually made of plastic vessel.

A typical example of a kitchen appliance of the type mentioned is the DE 36 41 902 C2 described device for mincing food. In this device is a food receiving vessel in the form of a cup-shaped inner shell with a surrounding, feet feet outer shell sealed sealed and closed by a fastener releasably secured by means of bayonet closure lid. In the bottom of the inner shell, a comminution tool is rotatably mounted via a corresponding bearing, which is connected to a centrally extending through the inner shell shaft stub, which is adapted for coupling to the drive shaft of a patch on a corresponding opening in the lid Stabrührgerätes. Handholds on the outer shell allow the device to be held with one hand while working. Essentially, the shredded food can only be dumped out of the inner shell, the removal of which is difficult on the inner wall of firmly adhering parts, and the cleaning of the inner shell is not easy because of the tool that is firmly connected to it.

In other kitchen appliances, which are used as an accessory to Stabrührgeräten in use, it is known to store the tool on a rigidly inserted into the bottom of the vessel concentric axis or lead and on the opposite side of this axis with the drive shaft of the lid on the To connect vessel attached Stabrührgeräts. In this design, although the tool can be removed from the vessel, but the removal of the processed food from the vessel is not easy enough.

Finally, from US-A 6, 089,746 a food processor is known in which on the edge of the vessel, a motor unit is placed, whose projecting into the vessel drive shaft carries a pressed-hub on which the formed as a fly cutter tool sits and a concentric bearing bore in which a cup-shaped or cup-shaped bearing means is freely rotatably and captively mounted by means of a bearing pin. That with the Concave side facing the vessel bottom bearing means acts in one embodiment with an integrally formed on the vessel bottom, a substantially cylindrical approach and in another embodiment with the vessel inner wall in the vicinity of the bottom together to support the drive shaft in the region of the vessel bottom. Due to the radial support of the shaft end should be avoided when operating at high speeds possibly occurring vibrations. The cleaning of the vessel is easy with this food processor; However, the removal of the prepared food from the vessel can only be done in a conventional manner by means of a Schopfwerkzeüges or by tipping over the vessel, etc .. The pot-shaped or disc-shaped storage product is neither intended nor suitable for receiving prepared foods.

The object of the invention is therefore to remedy this situation and to provide a food processor of the type mentioned, in which the removal of the prepared food from the vessel and the cleaning of the vessel in comparison are facilitated to the known machines or devices of comparable design.

To solve this problem, the food processor according to the invention, the features of claim 1.

The inserted into the vessel plate-shaped insert, the edges of the substantially substantially reaches the inner wall of the vessel and with its integrally formed on the inner surface of the hub hub or sleeve enclosing the axis or shaft for the tool, after completion of the preparation process and opening the vessel simply from be pulled out of the vessel, where he lifts the prepared food from the vessel, so that no spatulas, spoons or the like tools are not required even if there are limited space in smaller types and thus correspondingly small diameter of the vessel.

Depending on the specific design of the food processor, the axis may be rigidly connected to the plate-shaped insert, wherein the tool is rotatably mounted on the axis and expediently has a coupling device for the drive source. This drive source can be, for example, a rod stirrer, which can be placed on the vessel. The arrangement is advantageously made such that the Stabrührgerät can be placed on a vessel at least partially final lid, the lid contains an input side driven by the Stabrührgerät gear, the output side with the tool can be coupled and ensures that the tool with the rotates for the respective preparation process appropriate speed.

In another type of food processor, the shaft carrying the tool may be rotatably mounted on the dish-shaped insert so that it is removed from the vessel upon removal of the insert from the vessel together with the insert and its storage means.

The plate-shaped insert, which is itself the subject of claims 15 to 21, may have a bent edge to hold the prepared food together when removed from the vessel. Incidentally, it can be sealed against the inner wall of the vessel, for which purpose the edge can be provided with a sealing lip or designed as such. Incidentally, it is expedient if the plate-shaped insert is substantially planar, although cup-shaped embodiments are conceivable.

In order to avoid that the plate-shaped insert in the preparation of the food with the tool rotates with, it is advantageous if the arrangement is made such that the vessel and / or the plate-shaped insert has means for preventing rotation of the insert in the vessel. It should be noted, however, that there are also designs of kitchen machines, where it may be appropriate that the plate-shaped insert is formed circumferentially with the tool.

The insert, taken out of the vessel along with its axis or shaft, can be easily cleaned just like the vessel itself. Incidentally, it is easy to handle when taking out the prepared food and does not make it more difficult for the user to prepare the machine for a new operation, because it can be used without difficulty in the vessel.

It has already been mentioned that there are also kitchen machines in which the drive shaft of the tool is arranged penetrating the bottom of the vessel, wherein the drive source is usually arranged below the vessel. The tray-type insert used for such machines advantageously carries a hollow axis through which the drive shaft extends and which prevents food from passing through the passage opening for the drive shaft when the insert loaded with prepared food is removed from the container.

In the context of the invention, a food preparation food processor is understood to mean all devices, devices and machines for this purpose, regardless of the size and the drive power. It is irrelevant whether it is an independent machine or merely an accessory to another kitchen appliance, for example. To a hand or Stabrührgerät acts. In particular, the invention is of importance for devices that are characterized by a relatively small diameter of their vessel and thus cramped space for the removal of the prepared food.

"Preparing" foodstuffs is understood to mean all conventional types of treatment, such as stirring, grinding, comminuting, rasping, slicing, pureeing and the like.

Fig. 1

eine Küchenmaschine gemäß der Erfindung in einer Seitenansicht, Fig. 2 in die Küchenmaschine nach Fig. 1, geschnitten längs der Linie II,

Fig. 2

in einer Seitensicht,

Fig. 3

den tellerförmigen Einsatz der Küchenmaschine nach Fig. 2 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung,

Fig. 4

Werkzeug in Gestalt einer Raffelscheibe der Küchenmaschine nach Fig. 2 in perspektivischer schematischer Darstellung,

Fig. 5

einen Raffeleinsatz für die Raffelscheibe nach Fig. 4 in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 6

den tellerförmigen Einsatz für eine Küchenmaschine gemäß der Erfindung in einer abgewandelten Ausführungsform und dem axialen Schnitt in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 7 und 8

zwei abgewandelte Ausführungsformen des Gefäßes einer Küchenmaschine gemäß der Erfindung, mit entsprechend abgewandelten tellerförmigen Einsätzen, jeweils im axialen Schnitt in einer Seitenansicht, und

Figur 9

eine schematische Veranschaulichung des Gebrauches der Küchenmaschine nach Fig. 1 unter schematischer Darstellung verschiedener Stufen des Zusammenbaus der Teile bei der Benutzung, jeweils in perspektivischer Darstellung.

In the drawings, embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are shown, show:

Fig. 1

a food processor according to the invention in a side view, Fig. 2 in the food processor according to Fig. 1, taken along the line II,

Fig. 2

in a side view,

Fig. 3

the plate-shaped use of the food processor of FIG. 2 in a perspective view,

Fig. 4

Tool in the form of a Raffelscheibe the food processor of FIG. 2 in a perspective schematic representation,

Fig. 5

a raffle insert for the Raffelscheibe of FIG. 4 in perspective view,

Fig. 6

the plate-shaped insert for a food processor according to the invention in a modified embodiment and the axial section in a side view,

FIGS. 7 and 8

two modified embodiments of the vessel of a food processor according to the invention, with correspondingly modified plate-shaped inserts, each in axial section in a side view, and

FIG. 9

a schematic illustration of the use of the food processor of Figure 1 with a schematic representation of various stages of assembly of the parts in use, each in a perspective view.

The kitchen appliance shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, the can also be referred to as a food processor, is used for preparing food, for example, for crushing, cutting, raffolding and the like. It has a substantially cylindrical vessel 1, which consists of plastic, supports feet 2 and is closed by a cover 3. In the hood-shaped cover 3, a spur gear 4 is housed, which is arranged on a cup-shaped support member 5, which is fitted into the lid 3 and protrudes into the vessel 1 at 6. The input shaft of the transmission 4 is denoted by 7 and carries at its free end a shaft coupling 8, which is adapted to be coupled to the drive shaft 9 of a rod shaker 10 to be seen from FIG. The Stabrührgerät 10 can be placed in the manner shown in Figures e, f of Fig. 9 on the lid 3, which has for this purpose a coaxial to the input shaft 7 receptacle 11 for the drive shaft 9 of the Stabrührgerätes 10 surrounding protective hood 12.

The output shaft 13, which is axially parallel to the input shaft 7, of the transmission 4 is coaxial with the vessel 1 when the lid 3 is placed on the vessel. It carries a coupling element 14 protruding into the vessel for a tool circulating in the vessel 1, which will be described in detail below ,

In the lateral distance from the output shaft 13, a hopper 15 for food to be prepared is provided in the lid 3, which leads into the vessel 1 and contains a pressure ram 16 for the food.

In the vessel 1, a plate-shaped insert 17 is inserted, which is formed in the manner shown in FIGS. 2, 3 substantially cylindrical and with its edge at 18 to the inner wall 19 of the vessel 1 comes close and rests against this. The edge 18 of the plate-shaped insert 17 is bent toward the wall of the vessel 1 indicative, wherein the adjoining the edge 18 edge portion 20 of the insert 17 to the edge 18 is wedge-shaped tapered. By appropriate design and choice of material can be achieved that the edge portion 20 acts as a sealing lip, so that the edge 18 rests under a certain radial bias on the inner wall 19 of the vessel 1 and the insert 17 seals edge against the inner wall 19. The plate-shaped insert 17 is arched on its adjoining the edge region 20 inner surface 21 or substantially planar, while it is adapted on its outer surface 22 to the slightly concave shape of the bottom wall 23 of the vessel 1, so that the insert 17 to the bent-up edge region 20 out against the bottom wall 23 inside.

The plastic plate-shaped insert 17 is formed with an integrally formed, its central axis containing hub 24, in which a cylindrical, existing steel axle 25 is inserted coaxially. The axis 25 is formed in the region of its free end with a flat, in profile substantially part-circular annular groove 26, to which a rounded end portion 27 connects, which is designed so that it facilitates the placement of a tool on the axis 25. In the illustrated embodiment, at its circumference, the dish-shaped insert 17 removably inserted into the vessel 2 carries four recesses 28, which cooperate positively with ribs 29 (FIG. 7, 8) formed on the inner wall 19 of the vessel 1 and form an anti-twist device for the insert 17 form in the vessel 1. Through his form and the to the Inner wall 19 of the vessel approaching edge 18 of the plate-shaped insert 17 is properly centered in the vessel 1. On the axis 25 of the plate-shaped insert 17, a tool is placed, which is a raffia disk 30 in the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2, whose details of interest from Figures 4, 5 can be seen. The cylindrical Raffelscheibe 30 has at one point at a radial distance from its axis on a through opening 34, in the Raffeleinsatz 32 can be used. It is formed on its upper side with a coaxial coupling part 33 which forms a positive plug-in coupling together with the coupling element 14 of the transmission 4. On its underside, the Raffelscheibe 30 carries a coaxial bearing sleeve 34 with which it is rotatably mounted and guided on the axis 25 of the plate-shaped insert 17. The handling of the dish-shaped insert 17 and the operation of the device described is to be understood in particular from FIG. 9:

To prepare the preparation of a food is used with the lid removed 3 in the open vessel of the plate-shaped insert 17 (Figure a). On the thus introduced into the vessel 1 vertical axis 25 of the plate-shaped insert 17, the tool in the form of Raffelscheibe 30 with the bearing sleeve 34 is attached (image b). Subsequently, the lid 3 is placed on the vessel 1, the transmission output shaft 13 via the coupling element 14 while the coupling part 33 of the grating disc 30 rotatably coupled (Figure d). Now, the hand mixer 10 can be placed on the lid 3 (pictures e, f) wherein the drive shaft 9 is coupled via the clutch 8 to the transmission input shaft 7, whereby the device is ready for operation.

Figure c shows an alternative embodiment of the tool in the form of a so-called cutter 35 for mincing food, the coupling part is again denoted by 33 and which in turn is plugged onto the axis 25 of the plate-shaped insert 17.

For removal of the introduced via the shaft 15 by means of the Raffelscheibe 30 processed food from the vessel 1, the plate-shaped insert 17 is simply pulled out of the vessel 1 on its axis 25 after removal of the lid 3 and the Raffelscheibe 30, wherein the Raffelgut on the insert 17th piled up and retained on this by the high-arched edge 18. When pulling out the insert 17 from the vessel 1, the edge 18 brushes along the inner wall 19 of the vessel 1, so that no parts of the Raffelguts can fall down. In the area 19a following the vessel opening, the inner wall 19 is formed with a slightly larger diameter in order to facilitate the removal and, above all, the reinsertion of the dish-shaped insert 17 from or into the vessel 1. The empty vessel 1 can be easily cleaned because the axis 25 is taken out with the dish-shaped insert 17. The cleaning of the plate-shaped insert 17 prepares no problems.

Fig. 6 shows a modified embodiment of the plate-shaped insert 17 in which the axis 25 is rotatably supported by a bearing bush 36 in the hub 24. It is lifted out of the vessel 1 together with the bearing bush 36 and the foodstuff lying on the plate-shaped insert 17. An indicated at 37 circlip prevents the axis 25 thereby dissolves the insert 17. The tool can work in this Case rotatably mounted on the axis forming a shaft 25 and connected to this via a indicated at 38 longitudinal wedge. In this embodiment, the axle 25 is rotatably coupled to the transmission output shaft 13 (Figure 2).

Finally, the idea according to the invention can also be used for kitchen machines or appliances in which the drive shaft 25a is arranged penetrating the bottom 23 of the vessel 1, as illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8. The drive shaft 25a is coupled with a drive source, not further shown in these figures, which is either disposed below the vessel 1 or detachably connected from above with the drive shaft 25a. In the embodiment of Fig. 7, the plate-shaped insert 17 is formed with a molded coaxial sleeve 39 which surrounds the drive shaft 25a and facilitates the removal of the insert 17 from the vessel 1.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 8, the drive shaft is guided by a cylindrical bearing sleeve 40 formed on the bottom of the vessel 23 and projecting into the vessel interior. In this case, the integrally formed on the plate-shaped insert 17 coaxial sleeve 39 is formed with a diameter which allows the sleeve 39 to be pushed onto the bearing sleeve 40. As in the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the drive shaft 25a itself is sealed against the container bottom 23 at 41 and optionally mounted.

In the embodiments according to FIGS. 7, 8, after removal of the dish-shaped insert 17 from the vessel 1, the drive shaft 25a remains in the vessel 1, yet offers the plate-shaped insert 17 also in these types of kitchen appliances the advantage of easier removal of the processed food from the container. 1

In a food processor or a kitchen appliance for preparing food, a plate-shaped insert is removably arranged in the receptacle receiving the prepared food, which reaches the edge of the vessel inner wall and which closely surrounds the drive axle or shaft for the tool. The drive axle or shaft of the tool is, if necessary, captively connected to the plate-shaped insert.

Claims (20)

1. A kitchen appliance for preparing food, having a receptacle (1) intended for receiving the food, a driven tool (30) rotating inside the receptacle, a motive source (10) causing the tool to rotate which can be connected to the tool, wherein the tool is guided, or seated, by means of or on an arbor or a spindle (25, 25a) arranged inside the receptacle, and a substantially cylindrical insert removably placed into the receptacle (1), the insert having an inner surface (21) and an outer surface (22) and supporting at its inner surface a hub or sleeve (39) formed on it, wherein the insert (17) is plate-shaped having a high-arched edge area (20) for receiving the prepared food, and the edge of the insert comes substantially close to the inner wall of the receptacle (1), and the tool is removable from the insert.
2. The kitchen appliance in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the arbor (25) is rigidly connected with the plate-shaped insert (17), and the tool is rotatably seated on the arbor.
3. The kitchen appliance in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the tool (30) has a coupling device (33) for the motive source.
4. The kitchen appliance in accordance with claim 1,
   characterized in that the spindle (25a) of the tool is arranged so that it projects through the bottom of the receptacle.
5. The kitchen appliance in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the plate-shaped insert (17) supports a sleeve (39), through which the driveshaft (25a) extends.
6. The kitchen appliance in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the spindle (25) supporting the tool is rotatably seated on the plate-shaped insert (17).
7. The kitchen appliance in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the plate-shaped insert (17) is arched in a cup-shape.
8. The kitchen appliance in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the plate-shaped insert (17) is substantially flat, at least in some areas.
9. The kitchen appliance in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the receptacle (1) and/or the plate-shaped insert (17) have means for fixing the insert in the receptacle in a manner fixed against relative rotation.
10. The kitchen appliance in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the motive source is a hand-held blender (10) which can be placed on the receptacle.
11. The kitchen appliance in accordance with claim 10,
    characterized in that the hand-held blender (10) can be placed on a lid (3), which closes the receptacle off at least partially, and that the lid contains a gear, whose input side is driven by the hand-held blender and whose output side can be coupled with the tool.
12. The kitchen appliance in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the plate-shaped insert (17) is sealed against the inner wall (19) of the receptacle.
13. The kitchen appliance in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the plate-shaped insert (17) is designed to revolve with the tool.
14. Insert for use with a kitchen appliance in accordance with one of the preceding claims, the insert having a substantially cylindrical plate-shaped shape having an inner surface (21), an outer surface (22) and a high-arched edge area (20) for receiving prepared food, and supporting at its inner surface a hub or sleeve (39) formed on it.
15. Insert in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that it is made of plastic.
16. Insert in accordance with one of the claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the insert is arched at its inner surface (21) adjoining the edge area (20).
17. Insert in accordance with one of the claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the insert is substantially flat at the inner surface (21) adjoining the edge area (20).
18. Insert in accordance with one of the claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the insert is matched at its outer surface (22) to the concave shape of the bottom (23) of a receptacle (1) the insert is received in.
19. Insert in accordance with one of the claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the edge area (20) is embodied to taper in a wedge shaped toward the edge (18).
20. Insert in accordance with one of the claims 14 to 19, characterized in that the insert has cutouts (28) on its circumference.

Images